Airflow heating device, heating control method, and electronic cigarette

ABSTRACT

An airflow heating device includes an air channel for passage of an airflow, a heating member used to heat the airflow when passing through the air channel, a first temperature sensing element, a second temperature sensing element, and a control device. The first temperature sensing element is used to detect a temperature of the airflow at an air inlet of the air channel. The second temperature sensing element is located at an air outlet of the air channel, and is configured to detect a temperature of the airflow at the air outlet of the air channel. The control device is used to control the heating member according to temperature information of the heating member detected by the first temperature sensing element and temperature information of the airflow at the air outlet of the air channel detected by the second temperature sensing element.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the technical field of electroniccigarettes, and in particular, to an airflow heating device, a heatingcontrol method and an electronic cigarette.

BACKGROUND

Electronic cigarettes are currently widely used in some developedcountries in Europe and the United States, mainly to replace traditionalcigarettes. With the continuous improvement of living standards in ourcountry, people are continuously pursuing a higher quality of life, andthey gradually realize the serious harm of smoking, and quitting smokinghas gradually become a common understanding. Therefore, alternativessuch as electronic cigarettes are gradually becoming popular.

An important part of the smoking process of the electronic cigarette isheating, which heats the tobacco in the electronic cigarette to generatesmoke for users to suck. Therefore, heating control is a key factoraffecting the taste of electronic cigarettes.

In the heating methods of electronic cigarettes, air heating has thebest effect, but the airflow temperature control of the air heating isactually controlling the temperature at the air inlet of the airchannel, which will make the air temperature unstable and often higheror lower than the temperature at which the tobacco reaches its bestsmoking effect, thereby affecting the taste of electronic cigarettes.

SUMMARY

In view of the shortcomings of the related art, an object of the presentinvention is to provide an airflow heating device, a heating controlmethod and an electronic cigarette capable of detecting and controllingthe temperature of the airflow after heating.

To achieve the above objective, the technical solution of the presentinvention is as follows:

An airflow heating device includes an air channel for passage of anairflow, a heating member used for heating the airflow when passingthrough the air channel, a first temperature sensing element, a secondtemperature sensing element, and a control device. The first temperaturesensing element is used for detecting a temperature of the heatingmember. The second temperature sensing element is located at an airoutlet of the air channel for detecting a temperature of the airflow atthe air outlet of the air channel. The control device is separatelyconnected to the first temperature sensing element, the secondtemperature sensing element and the heating member. The control deviceis used for controlling the heating member according to temperatureinformation of the airflow detected by the first temperature sensingelement and temperature information of the airflow detected by thesecond temperature sensing element.

In one embodiment, the airflow heating device includes an outer tube andan inner support disposed inside the outer tube, and the air channel isformed between the outer tube and the inner support.

In one embodiment, the air channel is spiral.

In one embodiment, the inner support includes a central post and aspiral guide vane arranged along the central post, and the spiral airchannel is formed between the central post, the guide vane and the outertube.

In one embodiment, an airflow sensing element is further provided at theair inlet of the air channel, and the airflow sensing element is usedfor detecting suction signal.

The present invention also provides an electronic cigarette, whichincludes the airflow heating device as described above.

The present invention also provides an airflow heating control methodused for the airflow heating device as described above. The methodincludes the following steps:

-   -   acquiring temperature information detected by the first        temperature sensing element and the second temperature sensing        element;    -   controlling the heating member according to the temperature        information;    -   wherein the first temperature sensing element is used for        detecting the temperature of the heating member, and the second        temperature sensing element is located at the air outlet of the        air channel for detecting the temperature of the airflow at the        air outlet of the air channel.

In one embodiment, controlling the heating member according to thetemperature information includes:

-   -   controlling the heating member to enter a heating mode when a        cigarette lighting signal is received;    -   determining whether a first temperature detected by the first        temperature sensing element reaches a first preset temperature;    -   controlling the heating member to enter a heat preservation mode        and issuing a prompt message when the first temperature detected        by the first temperature sensing element reaches the first        preset temperature;    -   when a suction signal is detected, controlling the heating        member to perform heating according to a second temperature        detected by the second temperature sensing element.

In one embodiment, controlling the heating member to perform heatingaccording to a second temperature detected by the second temperaturesensing element includes:

-   -   if the second temperature is lower than a second preset        temperature, controlling the heating member to perform heating        at a first power until the second temperature reaches the preset        temperature;    -   if the second temperature is equal to or greater than the second        preset temperature, controlling the heating member to perform        heating at a second power, wherein the first power is greater        than the second power.

In one embodiment, controlling the heating member to enter a heatingmode includes: controlling the heating member to perform heating at athird power;

-   -   controlling the heating member to enter a heat preservation mode        includes: controlling the heating member to perform heating at a        fourth power, wherein the third power is greater than the fourth        power.

In one embodiment, the airflow heating device includes at least oneheating member, controlling the heating member to enter a heating modeincludes: controlling all the heating members to perform heating;

-   -   controlling the heating member to enter a heat preservation mode        includes: controlling a portion of the heating members to        perform heating.

The present invention also provides an electronic cigarette whichincludes a memory and a processor, wherein at least one programinstruction is stored in the memory, and the processor implements thefollowing method by loading and executing the at least one programinstruction:

-   -   acquiring temperature information detected by a first        temperature sensing element and a second temperature sensing        element;    -   controlling a heating member according to the temperature        information;    -   wherein the heating member is used for heating an airflow when        passing through an air channel, the first temperature sensing        element is used for detecting a temperature of the heating        member, the second temperature sensing element is located at an        air outlet of the air channel for detecting a temperature of the        airflow at the air outlet of the air channel.

The present invention has the following beneficial effects:

Compared with the related art, the airflow heating device, the heatingcontrol method and the electronic cigarette of the present invention areprovided with a second temperature sensing element at the air outlet ofthe air channel. The control device is separately connected to the firsttemperature sensing element, the second temperature sensing element andthe heating member. The control device is used for controlling theheating member according to temperature information of the heatingmember detected by the first temperature sensing element and temperatureinformation of the airflow at the air outlet of the air channel detectedby the second temperature sensing element. That is, the heating memberis controlled to perform heating according to the temperature at the airinlet of the air channel and the temperature at the air outlet of theair channel simultaneously, such that an optimal heating temperature forthe tobacco is provided, and an optimal smoking effect is achieved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an airflow heating device according toan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a heating control method for the airflowheating device shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, the present invention is described in detail throughspecific but non-limiting embodiments, so that the advantages and thefeatures of the present invention can be much easily understood by thoseskilled in the art.

As shown in FIG. 1, an airflow heating device according to an embodimentof the present invention includes an outer tube 1 and an inner support 2disposed inside the outer tube 1. The inner support 2 includes a centralpost 21 and a spiral guide vane 22 arranged along the central post 21. Aspiral air channel is formed between the central post 21, the guide vane22 and the outer tube 1 for the passage of an airflow 3 (shown by thedotted arrows in FIG. 1). The spiral guide vane 22 allows the airflow 3to flow in a spiral manner when passing through, such that the heatingis more sufficient and the heat exchange efficiency is high whencompared with flowing in a straight-line manner. According torequirements, in other embodiments, the spiral guide vane 22 may not bearranged on the central post 21, but may be arranged on the inner sideof the outer tube 1. It is also possible not to use a spiral airchannel, but to use a straight-line air channel or other manners.

A first temperature sensing element 4 is provided on a peripheral sideof the heating member, and an airflow sensing element 7 is provided atthe air inlet of the air channel. The first temperature sensing element4 is used for detecting a first temperature of the heating member. Theairflow sensing element 7 is used for detecting a suction signal, thatis, whether there is a flow of air, to determine whether the user startsto suck. In other embodiments, the airflow sensing element 7 may not beprovided, and other methods such as the user turning on a switch, ordetecting that the user's lips are in contact with a mouthpiece may beused to determine whether the user has started to suck. In FIG. 1, thefirst temperature sensing element 4 is provided at the air inlet of theair channel as an example. In actual implementation, the firsttemperature sensing element 4 only needs to be able to detect thetemperature of the heating member, and it may be arranged at anyposition on the surface of the heating member, which is not limitedherein. The first temperature sensing element 4 or the secondtemperature sensing element 5 in the embodiment may be a temperaturesensor.

A second temperature sensing element 5 is provided at an air outlet ofthe air channel to detect a second temperature of the airflow at the airoutlet. The second temperature is the temperature of the heated airflow,i.e., the heating temperature for the tobacco. If necessary, a thirdtemperature sensing element 6 may be installed on the outer tube 1 todetect a temperature of the heating member. When the temperature of theheating member reaches a preset threshold, heating is stopped to avoiddanger due to an excessive high temperature of the heating member.Optionally, the position of the air outlet in the embodiment refers to aposition where the distance from the air outlet is smaller than a presetvalue.

An inner wall the outer tube 1 may be surrounded by a heating member(not shown), and the inner support 2 may also be surrounded by a heatingmember (not shown) along the guide vane 22. The two heating members maybe heated together, or only one of them may be heated. By choosing twoor one of the hearing members being heated in different situations,electricity can be saved. The heating member mentioned in the embodimentmay be a heating resistance wire, which is not limited thereto.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the airflow heating devicefurther includes a control device (not shown). The control device isconnected to the first temperature sensing element 4, the secondtemperature sensing element 7 and the heating member, to receive thetemperature information detected by the first temperature sensingelement 4 and the second temperature sensing element 5 and control theheating member.

In other embodiments, an electronic cigarette is also provided,including the airflow heating device as described above.

As shown in FIG. 2, the airflow heating control method according to anembodiment of the present invention, which is used for the airflowheating device described above, includes the following steps S10 andS20.

S10: acquiring temperature information detected by the first temperaturesensing element and the second temperature sensing element, wherein thefirst temperature sensing element is used for detecting the temperatureof the heating member, and the second temperature sensing element isdisposed at the air outlet of the air channel to detect the temperatureof the airflow at the air outlet of the air channel.

S20: controlling the heating member according to the temperatureinformation.

Specifically, in S20, controlling the heating member according to thetemperature information may include the following steps S21-S24.

S21: controlling the heating member to enter a heating mode when acigarette lighting signal is received.

Optionally, this step may include: controlling the heating member toperform heating at a relatively high third power. The third power may bea default power in the system of the electronic cigarette, or a powerset by the user. In addition, when setting the power, the user can setit through the touch screen in the electronic cigarette or through aphysical button in the electronic cigarette, which is not limitedherein.

Optionally, when there are at least two heating members, this step mayfurther include: controlling all the heating members to perform heating.

S22: determining whether the first temperature detected by the firsttemperature sensing element reaches a first preset temperature.

The first preset temperature may be a default temperature in the systemof the electronic cigarette or a temperature set by the user.

S23: controlling the heating member to enter a heat preservation modeand issuing a prompt message when the first temperature detected by thefirst temperature sensing element reaches the first preset temperature.

When the detected first temperature reaches the first presettemperature, it means that the temperature at the air inlet of the airchannel has risen to the required temperature. At this time, theelectronic cigarette may control the heating member to enter the heatpreservation mode, and issue a prompt message. Specifically, controllingthe heating member to enter the heat preservation mode may include:controlling the heating member to perform heating at a relatively lowfourth power, or/and controlling a portion of the heating members toperform heating, wherein the fourth power is less than the third power,which can reduce heating power and save electricity.

Similar to the above steps, the fourth power may also be a default powerin the system of the electronic cigarette, or a power set by the user.

In addition, the above-mentioned prompt message is used to remind theuser to start sucking. In actual implementation, the prompt message maybe a sound, or may also be a vibration or a ring. Of course, it can alsobe realized by flashing a light.

In actual implementation, if the detected first temperature has notreached the first preset temperature, in order to cause the temperatureat the air inlet to reach the required temperature, the electroniccigarette continues to control the heating member to be in the heatingmode.

S24: when a suction signal is detected, controlling the heating memberto perform heating according to the second temperature detected by thesecond temperature sensing element.

This step may include: if the second temperature is lower than a secondpreset temperature, it means that the temperature at the air outlet hasnot reached the required temperature. At this time, the heating memberis controlled to perform heating at a first power until the detectedsecond temperature reaches the second preset temperature; if the secondtemperature is equal to or greater than the second preset temperature,it means that the temperature at the air outlet has reached the requiredtemperature, at this time, the heating member may be controlled toperform heating at a second power, wherein the first power is greaterthan the second power. Through the above-mentioned adjustment of thepower, the heating member can be quickly heated to cause the secondtemperature to reach the preset temperature, and after the secondtemperature reaches the preset temperature, the second temperature ismaintained at a relatively low power, which can save electric energy andreduce energy consumption.

In the above embodiments, after the user starts to suck, that is, afterthe atomizing device in the electronic cigarette starts to atomize, theelectronic cigarette can record at least one of the temperaturesdetected by the first temperature sensing element and the secondtemperature sensing element, the power of the heating member, thevoltage of the heating member, and the electric current of the heatingmember, and based on the above data obtained from historical statistics,a set of rules is trained, such that before the user sucks, thetemperature is maintained at the first preset temperature, and after theuser starts to suck, the temperature at the air outlet of the airchannel is maintained at the second preset temperature.

In actual implementation, the heating control method may furtherinclude: detecting a third temperature of the heating member,determining whether the third temperature reaches a third presettemperature, and stopping the heating using the heating member when thethird preset temperature is reached. By stopping the heating when thetemperature of the heating member is high, a hidden safety hazard due toan excessive temperature is avoided. Of course, in the embodiment, whenthe third preset temperature is reached, controlling the heating memberto stop heating is only taken as an example. In actual implementation,the heating member may also be controlled to perform heating at a fifthpower, wherein the fifth power is less than the third power, or lessthan the first power, which is not limited herein.

In an embodiment of the present invention, an electronic cigarette isfurther provided. The electronic cigarette includes a memory and aprocessor;

-   -   at least one program instruction is stored in the memory;    -   the processor implements the following method by loading and        executing the at least one program instruction:    -   acquiring temperature information detected by the first        temperature sensing element and the second temperature sensing        element;    -   controlling the heating member according to the temperature        information;    -   wherein the heating member is used for heating the airflow when        passing through the air channel, the first temperature sensing        element is used for detecting the temperature of the heating        member, the second temperature sensing element is located at the        air outlet of the air channel for detecting the temperature of        the airflow at the air outlet of the air channel.

The above are only specific embodiments of the present invention, butthe scope of protection of the present invention is not limited to this.Any person skilled in the art can easily think of changes orreplacements from the technical solutions disclosed in the presentinvention, which shall also be covered in the protection scope of thepresent invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the presentinvention shall be subject to the claims of the present invention.

1. An airflow heating device, comprising an air channel for passage ofan airflow, a heating member used for heating the airflow when passingthrough the air channel, a first temperature sensing element, a secondtemperature sensing element, and a control device, wherein the firsttemperature sensing element is used for detecting a temperature of theairflow at an air inlet of the air channel, the second temperaturesensing element is located at an air outlet of the air channel fordetecting a temperature of the airflow at the air outlet of the airchannel, the control device is separately connected to the firsttemperature sensing element, the second temperature sensing element andthe heating member, the control device is used for controlling theheating member according to temperature information of the airflowdetected by the first temperature sensing element and temperatureinformation of the airflow detected by the second temperature sensingelement.
 2. The airflow heating device according to claim 1, wherein theairflow heating device comprises an outer tube and an inner supportdisposed inside the outer tube, and the air channel is formed betweenthe outer tube and the inner support.
 3. The airflow heating deviceaccording to claim 2, wherein the air channel is spiral.
 4. The airflowheating device according to claim 3, wherein the inner support comprisesa central post and a spiral guide vane arranged along the central post,and the spiral air channel is formed between the central post, the guidevane and the outer tube.
 5. The airflow heating device according toclaim 1, wherein an airflow sensing element is further provided at theair inlet of the air channel, and the airflow sensing element is usedfor detecting suction signal.
 6. An electronic cigarette, comprising theairflow heating device according to claim
 1. 7. An airflow heatingcontrol method used for the airflow heating device according to claim 1,comprising the following steps: acquiring temperature informationdetected by the first temperature sensing element and the secondtemperature sensing element; controlling the heating member according tothe temperature information; wherein the first temperature sensingelement is used for detecting the temperature of the airflow at the airinlet of the air channel, and the second temperature sensing element islocated at the air outlet of the air channel for detecting thetemperature of the airflow at the air outlet of the air channel.
 8. Themethod according to claim 7, wherein said controlling the heating memberaccording to the temperature information comprises: controlling theheating member to enter a heating mode when a cigarette lighting signalis received; determining whether a first temperature detected by thefirst temperature sensing element reaches a first preset temperature;controlling the heating member to enter a heat preservation mode andissuing a prompt message when the first temperature detected by thefirst temperature sensing element reaches the first preset temperature;when a suction signal is detected, controlling the heating member toperform heating according to a second temperature detected by the secondtemperature sensing element.
 9. The method according to claim 8, whereinsaid controlling the heating member to perform heating according to asecond temperature detected by the second temperature sensing elementcomprises: if the second temperature is lower than a second presettemperature, controlling the heating member to perform heating at afirst power until the second temperature reaches the second presettemperature; if the second temperature is equal to or greater than thesecond preset temperature, controlling the heating member to performheating at a second power, wherein the first power is greater than thesecond power.
 10. The method according to claim 8, wherein saidcontrolling the heating member to enter a heating mode comprises:controlling the heating member to perform heating at a third power; saidcontrolling the heating member to enter a heat preservation modecomprises: controlling the heating member to perform heating at a fourthpower, wherein the third power is greater than the fourth power.
 11. Themethod according to claim 8, wherein the airflow heating devicecomprises at least one heating member, said controlling the heatingmember to enter a heating mode comprises: controlling all the heatingmembers to perform heating; said controlling the heating member to entera heat preservation mode comprises: controlling a portion of the heatingmembers to perform heating.
 12. An electronic cigarette comprising amemory and a processor, wherein at least one program instruction isstored in the memory, and the processor implements the following methodby loading and executing the at least one program instruction: acquiringtemperature information detected by a first temperature sensing elementand a second temperature sensing element; controlling a heating memberaccording to the temperature information; wherein the heating member isused for heating an airflow when passing through an air channel, thefirst temperature sensing element is used for detecting a temperature ofthe airflow at an air inlet of the air channel, the second temperaturesensing element is located at an air outlet of the air channel fordetecting a temperature of the airflow at the air outlet of the airchannel.